10 Ways to Protect Your Domain Name From Hackers: Domain hijacking destroys businesses overnight.
Organizations suffer an average of 7.5 domain name server attacks each year, with 90% of organizations affected according to a 2023 International Data Corporation report.
When hackers steal your domain, they control your website, intercept your emails, and damage your reputation while customers flee to competitors.
The average cost of domain-related breaches exceeds hundreds of thousands when factoring in lost revenue, recovery expenses, and brand damage. Prevention costs far less than recovery.
This guide provides 10 concrete security measures that block domain hijackers and protect your most valuable digital asset.
10 Ways to Protect Your Domain Name From Hackers
1. Enable Domain Lock at Registrar Level
Domain locking prevents unauthorized transfers by requiring manual authorization before any registrar changes occur.
After registering a domain name, enable domain locking. This security feature automatically blocks any domain transfer attempts. Registrar lock stops someone from transferring your domain to another provider without explicit approval from the registered owner.
Check lock status regularly during account logins. Some registrars automatically enable locks while others require manual activation. When you register your domain name with reputable providers, your domain name is locked by default so that you won’t worry about unauthorized transfers.
Verify lock status quarterly to ensure settings haven’t changed unexpectedly. Any time you visit the registration website to change account settings or domain settings, verify that domain locking is still on. This simple check takes seconds but prevents catastrophic theft.
2. Implement Registry Lock Protection
Registry lock provides enterprise-level security requiring multiple verification steps before allowing any domain changes.
Enable registrar lock and registry lock at the registry level. These stop unauthorized transfers. Registry lock adds an extra layer of protection by requiring manual verification through multiple contact points before modifications proceed.
Your registrar must enable this feature at the registry level. This protection is especially helpful in preventing domain hijacking. Even if someone gains access to your account, it provides time to detect and stop unauthorized action.
Registry lock costs vary by provider but typically range from $100-1000 annually. The investment justifies itself for high-value domains supporting significant business operations. Critical domains deserve this maximum protection level.
3. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Weak passwords represent the easiest attack vector hackers exploit to gain domain control.
To create a secure password, use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters. A good password should be 12 characters long and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Never use common names, dictionary words, birth dates, anniversary dates, or other easily guessable information.
Don’t reuse passwords across multiple accounts. If hackers breach one service, they try those credentials on domain registrars targeting high-value accounts. Given the sensitivity of domain and email accounts, it is essential to use unique passwords for these accounts, distinct from those used elsewhere on the internet.
Change passwords immediately when employees with account access leave your organization. Don’t use your contact email address as your username for your registrar account as hijackers will always guess this combination.
4. Activate Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication dramatically reduces unauthorized access risk by requiring secondary verification beyond passwords.
Enable two-factor authentication for both domain and email accounts. Does the registrar have additional security measures like two-step authentication? This is where you receive a code on your mobile phone every time you go to log in. You need to correctly enter this code before you’re granted access to your account.
With various two-factor authentication methods available, this technology can be seamlessly integrated into security measures. Enabling two-factor authentication significantly increases the challenge of unauthorized access to these accounts, as it requires not only knowledge of the password but also possession of the security code sent to the registered device.
It may be irritating to users, but without safeguards like this, a hacker can easily transfer your domain out of your account. The minor inconvenience far outweighs the catastrophic risk of domain theft.
5. Enable WHOIS Privacy Protection
Public WHOIS databases expose your personal information to hackers who use it for targeted attacks.
ICANN requires all domain name owners to provide personal details, your name, email, phone number and address. This information is then displayed publicly on a database called WHOIS. Everyone, including scammers and hackers, can access the WHOIS database and see personal information linked to each site.
A common avenue for hackers to access information about a domain and its ownership is through the WHOIS directory, a publicly accessible database containing domain ownership details. Originally intended to facilitate legitimate domain transactions, the WHOIS directory has become a tool for hackers seeking to target domain owners.
Domain Privacy Protection replaces your sensitive personal information with generic information. This way, you keep your identity secure while complying with ICANN’s domain registration requirements. Domain owners can safeguard their privacy by investing a nominal fee in Domain Privacy Protection, a service offered by domain providers.
Enable Who.is privacy (Who.is Guard) for your domain and make sure your contact details are not visible to anyone. Domain thieves can easily use this info to locate you and set bait for you using phishing emails.
6. Choose Reputable Domain Registrars
Your registrar’s security infrastructure directly impacts your domain’s protection level.
There are several types of domain registrars that permit you to register a domain name — some cheaper, some more expensive. However, price shouldn’t be the only influencing factor since it’s the security of your business in question here.
Instead, look for advanced and additional features that can amp up the security of your domain name. A well-established domain provider with a national reputation is recommended to provide robust protection for the domain against potential hijackers. Look for 24/7 technical support and efficient DNS management.
If you deal with a reputable hosting provider to get your domain, it won’t be that expensive, and you’ll know that your domain is managed by a company that takes security seriously. Verify the registrar offers domain locking, two-factor authentication, and responsive customer support before transferring domains.
Learn about what a domain name is and how domain names work to better evaluate registrar security features. Check domain pricing to compare registrar costs including security features.
7. Maintain Proper Domain Ownership
Always register domains under your own name rather than through intermediaries who might compromise security.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is asking someone else to buy a domain name for you. Not owning your domain under your name can easily lead to the domain being hijacked, because you won’t be able to prove that you own the domain.
If you’ve done that, contact the person who is listed as the owner of your domain and ask them to transfer the ownership to you immediately. Even if you know and trust the person who owns your domain, that person may be the target of hackers. If that happens, by not being the domain owner, you’ll be left powerless to do anything about it.
Take the wiser path and always use a domain that’s registered under your name. Verify ownership details match your current contact information. Keep registrant information accurate and updated to receive critical security notifications.
8. Guard Account Credentials Carefully
Your domain account credentials are business-critical assets requiring protection equivalent to financial account access.
You need to jealously guard your account info like any other account info on any other site (you need to be extra protective because your domain is a business asset). You should never give your login details to a stranger or any other person except to someone authorized to manage your domain (e.g. a webmaster or a developer).
Make sure you change the account details when this person leaves your organization. And again, when you hire someone to work on your account, make sure you change the password after they leave. This prevents former employees from accessing accounts after employment ends.
Never share credentials via email, messaging apps, or unencrypted communication channels. Use password managers to securely share access when necessary. Limit the number of people with domain account access to minimize breach risk.
9. Monitor Domain Account Activity
Regular monitoring detects suspicious activity before hijackers complete their attacks.
Review account access logs quarterly at minimum. Check for login attempts from unfamiliar locations or devices. Monitor for unauthorized settings changes including nameserver modifications, contact information updates, or unlock requests.
Set up email alerts for any domain account changes. Most registrars send notifications when critical settings are modified. Read these alerts immediately rather than ignoring them as routine messages. Quick response to suspicious activity prevents completed hijackings.
Audit domains in your portfolio regularly. Verify all domains remain under your control with correct settings. Check expiration dates and renewal status to prevent accidental losses. Learn how to recover expired domains as backup knowledge.
10. Implement Email Security Measures
Email accounts provide backdoor access to domain controls through password reset functions.
If a hacker can get into your email account, they can simply bring up your domain account login page, click on the “‘Forgot your Password?” link, and impersonate you by responding to the confirmation emails. Email security is domain security.
Use dedicated email addresses for domain registration rather than general business addresses. Apply the same security standards to these email accounts as your domain accounts: strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular monitoring.
Phishing emails represent common attack vectors. Hackers may send a phishing email to trick you into revealing your domain account credentials. The email might look like an important communication from your registrar or hosting provider, one in which they ask for information related to your domain account.
Never click links in unexpected emails from registrars. Instead, manually navigate to your registrar’s website and log in directly. Verify any unusual communication by calling your registrar’s support line. Legitimate providers never request passwords via email.
Additional Security Best Practices
Beyond the primary 10 protections, several supplementary measures strengthen domain security.
Implement DNSSEC
DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) makes the internet safer by ensuring DNS query authenticity. This protocol prevents DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks that redirect visitors to malicious sites.
DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records. These signatures verify that DNS responses haven’t been tampered with during transmission. Enable DNSSEC through your domain registrar’s control panel for supported extensions.
Regular Security Audits
Conduct comprehensive security audits every six months reviewing all domain protections. Verify locks remain enabled, passwords stay strong and unique, two-factor authentication functions properly, and contact information stays current.
Document your domain security configuration. Create checklists ensuring no protection gets accidentally disabled. Assign responsibility for domain security monitoring to specific team members rather than assuming someone handles it.
Backup Domain Configuration
Export and save your domain’s DNS settings, nameserver information, and registrar configurations. Store backups securely offsite. If hijackers modify settings, you can quickly restore correct configurations minimizing downtime.
Screenshot critical domain settings quarterly. These visual records provide quick reference during incident response. Detailed documentation accelerates recovery if security incidents occur.
Recognizing Domain Hijacking Attempts
Early detection stops hijacking before completion, preserving your domain and business continuity.
Common Warning Signs
Website suddenly stops loading or displays unfamiliar content. Email services stop working or bounce messages back. You can’t log into your domain registrar account using correct credentials. Unexpected domain transfer authorization emails arrive.
Customers report receiving suspicious emails from your domain. Security certificates expire unexpectedly. DNS settings change without your authorization. These red flags demand immediate investigation and response.
Immediate Response Steps
Contact your domain registrar immediately upon suspecting unauthorized access. Use phone support for fastest response. Reset all account passwords immediately. Revoke any active authorization codes or transfer requests.
Document everything: suspicious emails, unauthorized changes, timeline of events. File reports with law enforcement for criminal investigation. Notify customers if their data might be compromised. Engage legal counsel for serious hijacking incidents.
The Business Cost of Poor Domain Security
Domain theft extends far beyond technical inconvenience into serious business disruption.
Financial Impact
Lost revenue during downtime periods when customers can’t access your website. Recovery costs including security consultants, legal fees, and technical remediation. Potential ransom payments demanded by hijackers, though payment isn’t recommended.
Reputational damage reducing customer trust and future sales. Regulatory fines for data breaches resulting from domain compromise. Costs of notifying affected customers and providing credit monitoring services.
Operational Consequences
Email disruption halting business communications. Website downtime eliminating online revenue streams. Loss of search engine rankings accumulated over years. Customer confusion and erosion of brand trust.
Diversion of staff resources to crisis management. Delayed business initiatives while addressing security incidents. Potential loss of critical business data. These cascading effects multiply initial damage.
Compliance and Regulatory Considerations
Domain security increasingly intersects with compliance requirements across industries.
Industry Standards
PCI DSS 4.0 requires DMARC implementation as of early 2025 for payment processors. GDPR violations resulting from domain-related data breaches can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual revenue. NIST 800-53 includes DNS-related security controls for government contractors.
Healthcare providers face HIPAA penalties when domain compromises expose patient data. Financial institutions must meet strict security standards protecting customer information. Compliance failures trigger audits, fines, and potential license revocations.
Legal Protections
Document your security practices demonstrating reasonable care. Maintain records proving implementation of industry-standard protections. This documentation supports legal defenses if incidents occur despite precautions.
Cyber insurance policies increasingly require specific domain security measures. Review policy requirements and ensure full compliance. Non-compliance might void coverage when you need it most.
Related Domain Security Resources
Comprehensive domain security connects with broader domain management practices.
Select good domain names initially to avoid problems later. Avoid common domain name mistakes including trademark issues. Learn how to avoid domain trademark problems.
Explore what the 5 top level domains are and their security implications. Consider country code domains for international operations. Check differences between domain names and web hosting.
Use domain name generator tools for secure naming options. Research buying domains long-term for protection strategies. Master domain transfers without SEO loss.
Compare keyword versus branded domains strategically. Learn selling domains for profit when appropriate. Perform thorough domain name searches before registration.
Your Domain Protection Action Plan
Domain security requires consistent implementation of multiple protective layers working together.
Start by enabling domain lock and two-factor authentication immediately on all domains. Implement WHOIS privacy protection concealing personal information. Switch to strong, unique passwords managed through secure password managers.
Choose reputable registrars offering advanced security features. Maintain proper ownership documentation. Monitor account activity regularly for suspicious changes. Secure email accounts with equivalent rigor as domain accounts.
Domain names are often very valuable assets that must be protected. If you lose your domain, your entire business could go down, too. The investment in security measures costs far less than recovering from hijacking incidents. Protect your domain today before attackers strike tomorrow.
